Bulls Stampede on Politicians' Promises

Surge in stocks follows vow by Europe and China to do what it takes to bail out banks, if not governments.

The fix is in, and take that any way you care to. Having stood haplessly to the side while stock markets around the globe took a header, the power that be stumbled upon a solution to what purportedly is the greatest financial crisis in history -- just say you'll fix it.

The devil may be in the details, skeptics may say of the joint statement Sunday of German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy to do whatever it takes to bolster Europe's banks and hold the eurozone together. But the devil took the...